We will participate in the “Project for Building a Circular Economy Industry for Next-generation Aircraft” (hereinafter, the “Project”), which is being launched by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). 

The Project will be carried out jointly with Tokai National Higher Education and Research System Nagoya University as the representative institution, together with JAMCO, the Japan Fine Ceramics Center (JFCC), Subaru Corporation, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and others. 
The Project aims to establish an end-to-end framework (supply chain) for recovering carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), which is expected to be generated in large quantities from retired aircraft, and reusing it in aircraft. 

 

Carbon fiber composite materials are light and strong, and are widely used in industrial products. Especially in the aircraft field, these materials are used as wall surfaces in passenger cabins and as structural materials to support airframes and wings. Carbon-fiber composites are an essential material because lighter airframes are more effective in reducing fuel-consumption and CO2 emissions.

 

On the other hand, many issues remain regarding the application of recycled materials to the aviation field, and further technological development is required.

 

In this Project, we will leverage our expertise gained through supplying carbon-fiber composite materials to the aircraft industry and participate in the “development of a substrate-forming process to convert recycled materials into usable forms,” as well as the “property evaluation of recycled materials, definition of requirements for application to aircraft interior components, and demonstration testing using actual aircraft.”

 

We will continue to contribute to society through our technological capabilities in order to help realize a sustainable society, including through CO2 reduction and the effective use of resources.